---
title: 'MyStrands wants to invest $100,000 in your startup'
date: '2008-03-12T11:52:42-07:00'
type: post
word_count: 343
char_count: 2355
tokens: 446
categories:
  - Awards
  - Corvallis
  - Funding
  - MyStrands
  - Oregon
tags:
  - award
  - Corvallis
  - MyStrands
  - Oregon
  - 'start up'
  - Startup
---

# MyStrands wants to invest $100,000 in your startup

Corvallis-based [MyStrands](http://mystrands.com "MyStrands") has just announced a program designed to find the [best early-stage startup focused on “recommendation” technologies](http://blog.mystrands.com/2008/03/12/recommender-start-ups/ "Recommender Start Ups"). And, once found, to fund that startup to the tune of 6-figures of investment.

The $100,000 investment prize will be awarded to:

> \[T\]he best early-stage project in the area of recommendation technologies, considering the technology, business opportunity and team behind the project (without limitations as to which field the technology is applied).

This is a worldwide competition, but I’m confident that some of you Portland and Silicon Forest types—side project or otherwise—have got some cool technology that has a chance of winning this thing.

Why not give it a shot?

> All Proposals will be judged using the following judging criteria: (a) implementation and integration of recommendation technologies, (b) originality and creativity, (c) likelihood of long-term success and scalability, (d) effectiveness in addressing a need in the marketplace, and (e) team bios.

Get into the finals and you’re off to Switzerland to present.

> Five Finalists will be invited to present their projects during the [ACM Conference on Recommender Systems (RecSys08)](http://recsys.acm.org/) next October 23rd to 25th, 2008 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Finalists will be announced on October 6th.

So what are you waiting for? I think you can win this. And I’m sure the investment would help make your dream a reality. And if you’re not going to do it, then maybe our idea for [Portland Startup Weekend](http://startupweekend.com/portland-startup-weekend/ "Portland Startup Weekend") should be based on recommendation technology.

Entries will be accepted until September 15, 2008.

For more information on the contest and requirements, see [MyStrands’ post on the contest](http://blog.mystrands.com/2008/03/12/recommender-start-ups/ "MyStrands").

\[*Update*: I just noticed that ReadWrite Web has posted on the contest, as well, encouraging [MyStrands to continue its work in implementing open data standards](http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/mystrands_offers_100k_for_best_recommender_startup.php "MyStrands and open data standards").\]